Time to Make a Change: Reimagining Peace Processes in a Fragmented World Summary and Reflections on the PeaceRep Final Conference

Abstract

The PeaceRep Final Conference Time to Make a Change: Reimagining Peace Processes in a Fragmented World, hosted by the University of Edinburgh on 12 March 2026, brought together research institutions, non‑governmental organisations, and local research teams partnering in the consortium. It offered space for a collective reflection on the conceptual, methodological, and empirical innovations the consortium has introduced over its life cycle; and how these have shaped thinking and practice. Most consortium partners are universities, where academic staff integrate our ongoing research on peace processes, mediation, and transitions into our teaching. At the University of St Andrews, we run an innovative Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) PeaceHub: Global Mediation Database. VIPs actively involve students in research projects led by an academic supervisor and bring together a mixed team of students from any level of study (hence the ‘vertical’ aspect). Students join from across the arts and sciences, bringing diverse backgrounds and skillsets. In the PeaceHub VIP, students work in small groups researching individual conflicts and learning methodological and technical skills to contribute to the Mediation Event and Negotiators Database (MEND). Through cross‑disciplinary work in small groups and collaboration with PeaceRep researchers and data engineers, the module fosters an interdisciplinary environment that strengthens knowledge exchange and builds student skills in data analysis, rapid reading, visualisation, presentation, reflection, and most importantly – teamwork. The PeaceRep Final Conference provided a valuable opportunity to connect VIP students with the wider PeaceRep community. Students participated in all the sessions, interacted with PeaceRep researchers, took notes, and prepared written summaries on the panels, which were circulated and reviewed by panel organisers and VIP supervisors. We also invited them to offer brief reflections on memorable moments from the conference to accompany the panel summaries. What follows are their summaries and reflections. For further reading on the conference themes, visit the PeaceRep website at www.peacerep.org to browse publications, key findings from thematic and geographic areas of research, and PeaceTech data and digital tools.